Casing for typewriting and like machines



Nov. 17, 1959 E. NEUMANN CASING FOR TYPEWRITING AND LIKE MACHINES FiledDec. 23, 1955 United States Patent CASING FOR TYPEWRITING AND LIKEMACHINES Erich Neumann, Bielefeld, Germany Application December 23,1955, Serial No. 555,145

Claims. (Cl. 197-186) This invention relates to a casing for typewritingand like machines, more particularly portable typewriting machines,comprising a base portion that is bolted to the machine and a coversecured to said base portion in such manner as to be readily detachabletherefrom.

Known casings consist of a base portion incorporating side walls thatrise approximately to the level of the ribbon spools, the cover being acomparatively shallow plate. These types of casing sufier from thedisadvantage that, even when the cover is removed, cleaning andservicing of the machine is a laborious process. Generally, repairscannot be done until the base portion has likewise been removed. Thisapplies particularly to portable machines because their working partsare compressed into a very narrow space.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a casing which isfree from the defects about set forth and which lays bare the typingmechanism from the keyboard to the type bars and renders it accessiblefrom above as well as from either side when the cover is removed, sothat the mechanism can be readily serviced and repaired.

According to the present invention this object is achieved by providinga base consisting of a shallow frame and, mounted upon said frame, acover incorporating side walls which enclose all parts of the machinewith the exception of the keyboard and the carriage, and which areforwardly extended to enclose the stepped-down banks of keys on eitherside.

Whereas in known types of casing a removal of the cover merely disclosedthe ribbon spools and type bars, removal of the cover of a casingconstructed according to the present invention will lay bare and renderaccessible so that they can be conveniently replaced all the structuralmembers which transmit the movement of the keys to the type bars, i.e.including the tension springs which are common to the keys and theintermediate levers and which in portable typewriting machines aresubjected to exceptionally hard wear.

Further features of the present invention will be hereinafter describedwith reference to an example of the present invention illustrated by theaccompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portable typewriter equipped with acasing according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front portion of a portabletypewriter with its cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cover plate alone, and

Fig. 4 is a form of construction in section of a catch mechanism forattaching the cover to the base.

As will be readily seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 1, the casingcomprises a flat frame 1 which completely surrounds the machine and acover 2 mounted upon said frame so as to be readily detachabletherefrom. The frame 1 is so devised that its edge is raised to thelevel of the spacing bar 3 which lies countersunk in a recess cut intothe edge of the frame.

At the back of the machine the edge 5 of the frame 1 2,913,095 PatentedNov. 17, 1959 so that the frame neatly encloses the rear of thecarriage.

The compact unit construction of the frame 1 improves the rigidity ofthe entire machine and renders it proof against jolting and shock.

The side walls 7 of the cover 2 which entirely encloses the keyboardmechanism are forwardly extended and form a cleanly designed edge oneither side of the banks of keys 8.

As will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 2 there are providedbetween the abutting edges 9 shown in Fig. 1 and attached to the frameby means of screws elongated leaf springs 10 the free ends of which archslightly upwards when they are not depressed. These springs suppressrattle when the cover 2 is in position. To ensure correct alignment ofthe cover locating pins 11 are fitted to the frame and these engage withcorresponding holes (not visible in the drawing) in the cover 2.

Moreover, the frame is provided with short slots for the reception ofhooked catches fitted to the cover 2. As will be seen in Fig. 2 the leafsprings 10 have an appropriate cut out section in the vicinity of theseslots 12.

The aforesaid catches (shown in Fig. '4) consist of double-armed leverswith a hook 14 on one arm and an actuating lug 15 on the other. The lugswhich pass through slots 16 in the side walls 7 (see also Figs. 1 and 3)can be depressed against the counter-pressure of springs 17 screwed tothe side walls 7 so as vto press against a transverse pin fitted to thedouble-armed lever 13, said pin also serving as a stop limiting theoutward movement of the catch 13.

When the actuating lugs 15 are depressed the doublearmed lever tiltsabout its fulcrum 20 so that the hook 14 can be withdrawn from the slot12 in the frame and the cover raised. The pivot 20 is arranged on abracket screwed to the interior of the side walls 7 in the same manneras spring 18.

It will be readily understood that the spring which prevents the coverfrom being unintentionally released may be replaced by a helical springwhich might then be conveniently arranged on the pivot pin 20. Moreover,a further stop might be provided in addition to the stop 19 to limit themovement of the lever in the opposite direction.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriting or like machine having a keyboard, a type bar drivemechanism and a front spacing bar, a casing formed in two parts namely aflat base frame fixed to the machine and having a front edge which isrecessed to accommodate the spacing bar and front and side parts whichare not higher than the spacing bar, and a cover detachably mounted onthe base frame with its lower edge resting on the base frame, the topand side parts of the cover enclosing the type bar mechanism and forwardextensions of the side parts of the cover affording lateral protectionfor the keyboard.

2. A typewriting or like machine comprising a keyboard, a type bar drivemechanism, a front spacing bar, a casing consisting of a flat base framehaving front and side parts which are not higher than the spacing barand a cover having its lower edge resting on the base frame, springloaded catches attached to the interior of the sides of the cover fordetachably securing the cover to the base frame, and lugs on saidcatches projecting to the outside of the sides of the cover forreleasing the catches, the top and sides of the cover enclosing the typebar mechanism and forward extensions of the sides of the cover affordinglateral protection to the keyboard.

3. A typewriting or like machine as claimed in claim 2 includingslightly arcuate leaf springs secured to the frame and extendedlengthwise between adjacent edges of the cover and the frame, and pinsmounted on one of the elements of the casing for engagement withcorresponding holes in the other element of the casing.

4. A typewriting machine, particularly a box or portable machinehavingribbon spools, a paper carriage, akeyboard, a type bar mechanism and aspacing bar, a machine support, a cover means enclosing the ribbonspools and type bar mechanism disposed between the paper carriage andthe keyboard, and quickly operable latch means cooperably connected withthe cover means and machine support to detachably attach the cover meansto the machine support and permit its ready detachment therefrom therebyleaving the type bar mechanism and keyboard laterally free, the saidcover means being defined in the form of a hood extending downwardly onboth sides of the machine to at least approximately the level of thespacing bar and at the sides of the keyboard extending forward to affordlateral protection for the keyboard.

5. In a typewriting or like machine having a keyboard, a type bar drivemechanism and a front spacing bar, a

casing formed in two parts namely a fiat base frame fixed to the machineand having front and side parts which are not higher than the spacingbar, a cover detachably mounted on the base frame, the top and sideparts of the cover enclosing the type bar mechanism and forwardextensions of the side parts of the cover affording lateral protectionfor the keyboard, a paper carriage, and the rear of the frame beingextended upwardly above the level of the spacing bar to protect the rearof the paper carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,800,199 Garbell Apr. 14, 1931 2,104,482 Helmond Jan. 4, 1938 2,297,229Kruger Sept. 29, 1942 2,639,020 Schroder May 19, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS1,014,653 France Aug. 20, 1952

